SAFETY EXPERTISE

Continuously developing new products also entails a need for new tools to repair and maintain them. Especially machines for construction and agriculture get bigger and bigger which means that you won’t be able to meet the new needs with out-of-date workshop equipment. Which in turn means that one might be tempted to use risky improvisations to still fulfill such an order. All damages to employees or workpiece occurring in the process affect profitability. Therefore, an update in production should always go hand in hand with an update of workshop equipment. This equipment must not only be powerful enough for the work, but also very precise as only a well- measured and controlled use of it ensures that work can be carried out safely and in a material-friendly way.

Older workshops are challenged by the new dimensions of machines in need of maintenance. This is especially true if machines from several orders have to be serviced at the same time. No matter the circumstances, the working space of each worker must never be infringed to make sure nobody gets distracted or even endangered.

New buildings are not an option for every business, but well thought out logistics can contribute to creating enough space to work properly. Mobile tools, platforms and workbenches can be stored away and make room for other things whenever necessary. A high number of devices without a fixed mounting increase flexibility in a workshop. That way, work can be carried out faster and more focused.

There is always a high risk when transporting machines for repairs or maintenance into or out of the workshop. Moving damaged machines can always result in unforeseeable incidents. To minimize the risk, it is crucial to move them as little as possible and with people well out of harm’s way. The same is true for parts removed in disassembly – their handling has to be planned carefully.

Every time a process is changed or someone has to go back and forth unnecessarily, it takes time and room to maneuver with the corresponding potential risks. In this case, devices offering the possibility to conduct disassembly, maintenance, repair and assembly in one place can be of significant help.

Workflows should never be confused with routines. When they turn into a routine, error can occur more easily. Effective workflows need to be individually adapted to the affected part of the machine in need of repair. Experience can help you to achieve this in a few work steps. However, it is important to have an eye on the process from start to reassembly. Modern maintenance and testing machines offer support by continuously providing feedback on state of repair and workpiece. Making a process as self-explanatory and logical as possible can help employees to safely carry out their work. The more clearly defined all possible steps are for a worker, the more efficient and quickly he will fulfill his task. Improvising always takes time and bears risks.

Too many cooks spoil the broth – not every kind of work becomes more efficient with more manpower.

The bigger a team, the harder it gets to communicate and have a common understanding of the work steps ahead of you. Instead of carrying out all steps together, it helps to split the wok into smaller packages an assign them to smaller teams or individual workers.

Appropriate workshop equipment can enable individuals to perform tasks requiring a lot of force on their own. This is a way to significantly reduce the risk of accidental injuries caused by unclear work steps.

Work safety is a process. It is essential to constantly have an eye on work processes in a workshop in order to ensure safe working conditions in the long run.

Equipment and know-how need to be up-to- date and prepared for future challenges. Staying curious and questioning existing workflows enables businesses to increase their efficiency and safety.